Current/Future Fic
Break Through
Chapter 1: It's Never THAT Simple
Good people have needs too…..
Noah: Come over.
Berry: I can't. Finn will be here soon.
Noah: How long is he gonna be there?
Berry: For awhile. We're studying.
Noah: I'll be outside your room at 11.
Berry: Noah….
Noah: Whatever Berry. You know you'll be alone.
"Hey!" His voice startled her as she finished reading Noah's last text message. She nonchalantly slipped her phone back into its pouch and turned to face her boyfriend.
"Hi. I'm glad you came over!" She exclaimed as she threw her arms around Finn's neck.
It had been a long hard road for the two of them. It had taken him the remainder of the school year to move past what had happened to him.
She'd been there by his side, she'd done her best to weather the storm. She'd listened to every rant, she'd soothed his crying jags and let him yell when he needed to get it out.
And it had taken its toll on the starlet-to be. Being someone else's rock, especially someone as needy as Finn had turned out to be, was emotionally draining. So she looked for a vice of her own, some way to work out her own stresses.
She'd never expected that vice to be a certain mohawked football player. But it had worked surprisingly well. Both of them were hurting, both of them needed a way to blow off steam.
To say it started it out as an accident would be lying. But she'd rather lie than admit that it had 100% NOT been an accident.
Long ago, she'd recognized the chemistry (at least physically) that existed between her and Noah. And when Finn had taken his (temporary) leave from Glee, Noah had been pushed into his spot, much to the chagrin of everyone (except for Rachel) in glee.
He'd been grateful for her acceptance. He might not have ever said or shown it, but he was. And she seemed to get that.
Just like he got how much pain she was in. He knew Finn was putting her through the ringer. He knew Finn didn't know what he was doing. And he wasn't going to tell him, they weren't friends anymore.
So, instead, he focused on her, on glee. Because, sad as it sounded, it was basically all he had left.
It happened after a rendition of "Break Through". They'd been practicing (by themselves of course, she'd always insisted on additional rehearsals, and her being his only fan/friend, he complied, though not without a remark and an eye roll).
The school was nearly empty and the auditorium was dim. They'd run through the choreography several times, because he was only a marginally better dancer than Finn. It seemed like every time he did a step right, he missed a line, or vice versa.
On their final attempt, he managed to hold it together and they got through it flawlessly.
He blamed Rachel. She'd rewarded him with a small smile and a warm hug.
Noah hugged her back. Because, fuck, it had been a really long time since he'd had a hug. He wasn't a girl or anything, but the weight of the world was a lot when you didn't have anyone on your side.
That moment appeared to be their defining moment. Things changed after that. It was clear (without words ever being spoken) they were both in need of a support system.
They lasted two weeks as "friends" before the line was crossed.
She'd found him sitting on the hood of her car, gazing off into the dark sky.
"You're looking quite tumultuous Noah. Is everything alright?" She asked tentatively.
While he didn't know what the 'tumultuous' meant, he got the gist.
"Not so much. It's been a shitty ass day and now my truck won't start. Can I grab a ride home?" He asked, not even making eye contact.
Instead of lecturing him on his inappropriate language, she nodded and pressed 'unlock' on her keyless entry.
The drive was silent. Ghostly silent. A part of him wanted her to talk, that would at least feel normal. This silence she was offering him was unnerving to say the least.
He quietly gave her the necessary directions to his home and they resumed their unnerving silence.
She pulls into his driveway and cuts the engine.
Here she goes.
"Have a nice evening Noah." She told him quietly.
His jaw slackened. He'd expected her to verbally assault him and instead she offers him a polite goodbye?
"What gives Berry?!?!?" He finally ground out a moment later.
She scrunched her brow in confusion.
"With YOU. Why aren't you jabbering my ear off right now??!" He asked, his tone indicated that he obviously was not joking.
"I'm sorry but I was under the impression that I make you want to light yourself on fire, I should think my silence would be a welcome break in the pattern." She replied softly.
It was his turn to scrunch his brow in confusion.
"You… You were being quiet because you thought I wanted you to be?" He asked at last.
She nodded, her face a bit red with embarrassment.
"Why?" He questioned.
She shrugged lightly, not making eye contact. "Well, it seemed to make me more bearable to you, make you feel better, so I guess, with us hanging out, and not really having anyone else, it just… I guess…" She trailed off, more than a little flustered by her inability to form cohesive sentences.
He grinned at her and her mangled response.
Before he realized what was happening, she covered his lips with her own.
It wasn't a new feeling, they'd made out before. But this time, there was a distinct lack of desperation, force. It was soft and her hand had found his bicep and squeezed gently.
He'd barely had time to register her actions before she'd pulled away, apparently mistaking his shock for distaste.
She turned those big dark eyes on him now. "Was that not what you wanted?" She asked, her voice quiet and confused.
He responded by cupping her neck and pulling her towards him, all of sudden feeling desperation for the feel of her lips on his.
Maybe it was because she needed him…. Or maybe it was because he was just… needed.